Playwright Liz Duffy Adams (Born With Teeth, Dear Alien) has put together the classic farce The Emperor and Empress of the Moon (1687) with her own brand of science fiction based on research with NASA scientists about the Artemis project and its efforts to return humans to the moon.
Houston audiences can not only watch the result – Lunacy or The Emperor and Empress of the Moon – but be part of its final creation in a reading this weekend as part of the Alley Theatre’s All New Festival. In all, four different plays will be presented in workshop readings complete with actors and directors for each one. And it’s free.
The play is “slightly in the future, when the moon base is up and running,” Adams says.
“When I’ve been in Houston for other projects I had the opportunity to go out to NASA and get private tours of different areas of NASA and meeting various NASA scientists,” Adams says. “I’ve been able to correspond with a couple of them and share the draft with them of the play Lunacy. And get input on the proper language and vocabulary and even the concepts. Like being able to say to a scientist, ‘What do you think would be happening on the moon in 50 years or 25 years?’
“I don’t want any NASA people to sit there [in the audience] and go ‘Oh my God, this is terrible.’ It’s not just the technical aspects but the NASA culture which I’ve kind of fallen in love with. The sense of NASA culture being very human and grounded. The beauty and glory of competence. And I wanted that to be reflected in the play. “
Adams describes the workshop aspect of the Alley’s All New Festival as invaluable.
“It’s so fantastic to be in a room, four full days of rehearsal with an entire cast. Rehearsing and hearing it; I’m revising in the room. I got up at 7 this morning and rewrote a couple of pages and brought them in.
“The workshopping of it can’t be done in any better way than to be in the room with all these voices and all these brilliant wonderful actors and then to hear it beautifully read in front of an audience. It’s amazing what a playwright learns from that. You can’t just stay in your head. You have to hear it out loud.”
2026 ALLEY ALL NEW FESTIVAL
LUNACY
OR,
THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF THE MOON
by Liz Duffy Adams
Directed by Rob Melrose
Saturday, October 24, 10:30 AM
For all of human history, we’ve wanted to go to the moon. This wildly imaginative spin on Aphra Behn’s Restoration comedy is part period piece and part science fiction. It launches past the original, spanning time, genre, and space. Discover Alley veteran Liz Duffy Adams’ latest play, written with input from real NASA scientists.
The cast includes Resident Acting Company Members Dylan Godwin as Don Cinthio/ Mission Specialist Theo and Melissa Molano as Elaria/ Mission Specialist Ella. They are joined by Andrea San Miguel as Harlequin/ Science Officer Quin, Callee Miles as Bellemante/Mission Specialist Bella, Allison Pistorius as Scaramouch/ Command Pilot Cara, David Sinaiko as Doctor Baliardo/ Commander Bell, Forrest Stringfellow as Don Charmante/ Mission Specialist Monty, Essence Renae as Mopsophil/Artemis and Allysia Peine and Mason Dowd reads Stage Directions. Laura Pilar Gutierrez stage manages.
AFRICAN MOMS’ BOOK CLUB
by Gloria Majule
Directed by Awoye Timpo
Sunday, October 25, 10:30 AM
Four ultra-wealthy Tanzanian women gather every month, to decide on their next book club read. This month, they chose the Bible. Again. With the arrival of a new member from abroad, tensions rise and cracks begin to form in the women’s perfectly manicured lives and fiercely held beliefs.
The cast includes Resident Acting Company Member Michelle Elaine as Latifa. She is joined by Estée Burks as Farida, Patrice Johnson as Zawadi, LaKeisha Rochelle Randle as Sylvia, Fahnlohnee Reeves as Nuru and Claire Metusalem reads Stage Directions. Deb Ramser stage manages.
FAMILY WEEKEND
by Jake Brasch
Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch
Saturday, October 24, 4:30 PM
It’s Family Weekend at Rocky Mountain Joy, a substance abuse treatment center in rural Colorado. In the wilderness, families contend with their loved ones, their counselor…and a pesky elk that won’t get lost. Laugh along with this dark comedy about addiction, family, and the limits of love.
The cast includes Resident Acting Company Members Elizabeth Bunch as Carly and Chris Hutchison as Frank. They are joined by two-time Tony Award nominee Johanna Day as Mildred, Bryan Jahnke as Ted/Henry, Antonio Lasanta as Elijah, Courtney Markowitz as Jane, Alyssa Rodriguez as Rosa, and Micah Weese reads Stage Directions. Juliette De Andrade stage manages.
HIPPOLYTUS/PHEDRA
by Luis Quintero
Directed by Nathan Winkelstein
Friday, October 23, 4:30 PM
Sunday, October 25, 4:30PM
Love is one heck of a drug. Phedra, Queen of Troizen, harbors a secret passion for her stepson, the Prince Hippolytus. With King Theseus nowhere to be found, tension in the household rises with each passing moment. Will love triumph over all? Or is it a shortcut to destruction? Experience this Ancient Greek hip-hop infused opera, inspired by Euripides, Seneca, Racine and Kane.
The cast includes Resident Acting Company Member David Rainey as Theseus. He is joined by Raven Justine Troup as Chorus, Luis Quintero as Hippolytus, Teresa Zimmermann as Phedra, and Woody Minshew reads Stage Directions. Rachel R. Bush stage manages.
*All readings are for mature audiences. Check alleytheatre.org for updates and the current schedule.
Single reservations are now available. Alley All New programming is recommended for mature audiences. All updates and schedules will be available at alleytheatre.org/allnew.
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